Owners of Sussex County adult daycare center charged with illegally housing elderly dementia patients
BYRAM TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sussex County) – The owners of a Sussex County adult daycare center were recently charged with illegally housing elderly dementia patients, according to police.
On June 9, 2021, an investigation was initiated at the Claremont Adult Daycare Center, located at 238 Route 206, in Byram Township after receiving a notification from the Byram Township Construction official that while conducting a routine inspection of the facility, they allegedly witnessed several elderly patients who appeared to have dementia and did not appear to be well, police said.
The Byram Detective Bureau also received information that the current business operating the facility allegedly did not have a certificate of occupancy to run a business at the time of inspection, police said.
Out of concern for their welfare, exigent circumstances and in a community caretaker status, Byram Police and members of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crimes Unit responded to the reported location with emergency services and additional social workers from the Sussex County Division of Social Services to assess the status of the patients, police said.
All the elderly dementia patients found on scene were assessed and sent back home with their families with some being sent to the Newton Medical Center for additional medical treatment and placement. It was determined that the patients found at the facility were permanent residents while the building was not approved for that type of land use, police said.
Additional investigative resources were requested from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs.
As the investigation evolved, investigators learned that the facility was unlicensed in New Jersey to operate an adult daycare facility, assisted living facility or a nursing home, police said.
The owner operators of the facility, Fe M. Caliolio and Yolando M. David, were charged with endangering the welfare of an incompetent person, causing or risking widespread injury, and deceptive business practices or conspiracy to commit those following offenses for housing nine elderly dementia patients at an unlicensed facility in Byram Township, police said Wednesday.
If there is any additional information from a member of the public who has been a victim of a financial related crime perpetrated by the above listed individuals, contact the Byram Township Detective Bureau at 973-347-4008 or the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office White Collar Crime Unit at 973-383-1570.
